Advertising display apparatus



Aug. 9, 1938. C. E. MccA| UM 2,126,567

ADVERTISING DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Feb. 8, 1938 4 SheetS-Sheet linventor X 44 i iorney s Aug. 9, 1938., c. E. McCALLUM ADVERTISINGDISPLAY APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1938 1 nvenior Ai'zforneys Aug. 9, 1938. I c. E. MccALLuM 2,126,567

I ADVERTISING DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Feb. 8, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 Ad lgwwmzfizak Aiiomeus Aug. 9, 1938. v c. E. MCCALLUM 2,126,567

ADVERTISING DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Feb, a, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aiiorngys Patented Aug. 9, 1938 ADVERTISING DISPLAY APPARATUS Claud E.McCallum, Miami, Fla., assignor of onehalf to Frederick Otto Weissenburgand one- ;riilf to Frank William Pickard, both of Miami,

Application February 8, 1938, Serial No. 189,382

6 Claims. (01. 4037) My invention relates to improvements in advertisingdisplay apparatus for use either as roadside installation, windowdisplay equipment, a toy, or in any other form favorable for displayingadvertising matter.

An important object of the invention is to provide a realistic displayapparatus for advertising a particular make of automobile and embodyinga pictorial representation, on an attractive background, of the make ofautomobile but having real wheels adapted to be revolved, together withboth a wind and motor operated drive for the wheels, the formercontrolling the latter so that when the wind dies down the latter isrendered operative and vice versa.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the character and for thepurpose above setforth equipped with an intermittently sounding horn andflash illumination operative under control of the drive, and also withmeans for presenting to view successively varying advertising slogans orother reading matter.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing, and subordinate objectspresently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has beenillustrated in the accompanying drawings, treated in detail in thesucceeding description, and defined in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawings:-

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of apparatus constructed inaccordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation of the casing with the closurepanel removed, a

Figure 3 is a view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 3--3of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line 4-4of Figure 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, Figure 5is a fragmentary view in vertical transverse taken on theline 5-5 ofFigure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and drawn toan enlarged scale, and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the basic element of my inventioncomprises a shallow, preferably rectangular, casing I adapted to bedisposed in upright position andv lengthwise upon suitable supports, notshown, and including a topside 2, a bottomside 3, ends 4, a front panel6 and a rear panel 5 the latter hinged as at I to the bottomside 3 toform a closure for the casing to be locked in closing position by meansof a suitable catch indicated at 8. The casing I may be formed of anysuitable material such as material, disposed close to the panel 6 justclear of the front face of the latter and fast upon a pair of front andrear spindles I3 and I4 extending through suitable bearings, as at I5,provided in the panel 6 and having rear ends journaled in U-shapedbearing brackets I6 in the casing I bolted to the rear face of the panel6 as at Il. Preferably the bearings I5 and the bearing brackets I6 areequipped with ball bearing assemblies as indicated at I8 and I9. Thespindles I3 and I4 each have fast thereon, intermediate the panel 6 andbearing brackets I6, a pulley 20 for driving the spindles in a mannerpresently described. Each spindle I3, I4 also has fast thereon a collar2I coacting with the bearings I5 to limit outward movement of the wheelsI3 or I4 as the case may be.

The pulleys 20 are adapted to be driven by the following drivemechanism:

In the vertical center of the casing I is a vertically disposed primarydrive shaft 2| exr tended downwardly into said casing by way of abearing sleeve 22 upstanding from the topside 2 of said casing, saidshaft also extending through a suitable ball bearing assembly 23 in saidtopside 2 and terminating in the upper part of said casing. The upperend of the primary drive shaft 2I is equipped with a suitable head 24seating against a suitable end thrust bearing 25 on said sleeve 22 andhaving radiating therefrom a plurality of arms 26 equipped at theirouter ends with suitable cup-like vanes 21 and forming together withsaid arms 26 and head 24 a wind wheel for driving said shaft 2|. Belowthe primary drive shaft 2I is a secondary drive shaft .28 axiallyaligned with the shaft 2I and having its lower end journaled in abearing bracket 29 upstanding from the bottomside 3 in the casing I andsuitably secured to said side as at 30. The upper end of the secondarydrive shaft 28 extends through a suitable anti-friction bearing 3|extending from the panel 6 and terminates short of the lower end of theprimary drive shaft 2 I.

The primary drive shaft 2! is adapted to be operatively connected to thesecondary drive shaft 28 by means of the following clutch mechanism:

Fast on the lower end of the primary drive shaft 2| is a clutch disk 32having a lower clutch facing 33 opposed to a similar clutch facing 34 onanother clutch disk 35 subjacent to the clutch disk 32 and fast upon aclutch rod 36 intermediate the ends of the latter. The clutch rod 36 hasits opposite ends telescopically mounted in the lower end of shaft 2|and upper end of shaft 28, respectively, for vertical sliding movementtherein whereby under such movement of said rod in opposite directionsthe clutch disk 35 may be engaged with and disengaged from the clutchdisk 32, respectively, as will be readily understood. The lower end ofthe clutch rod 35 is splined in the upper end of the secondary driveshaft 28 as indicated at 31 and rotatable in the lower end of theprimary drive shaft 2|. The clutch rod 36 is moved in oppositedirections respectively under control of a centrifugal throw governor asfollows: Fast on the said shaft 2| in surrounding relation to the upperend of the clutch rod 36 is a sleeve 38 bolted to said shaft as at 39and having a lower slotted flange 40 in which is pivoted as at 4| a pairof governor arms 42 the arrangement being such that said arms 42 arevertically swingable on their inner ends in said flange. The governorarms 42 are equipped at their outer ends with the usual ball members 43.The pivoted ends of the governor arms 42 terminate in a pair of earns 44operatively engaging the underside of a rod-operating yoke 45 rotatableabout the upper end of the clutch rod 36 and rabbeted in the same asindicated at 46, said yoke extending through suitable slots 41 and 48 inthe shaft 2| and sleeve 38 respectively so that it is vertically movableindependently to impart similar movement to said clutch rod. Thearrangement of the described parts is such that the clutch arms 42normally gravitate into substantially vertical position and the yoke 45and clutch rod 36 are supported by said cams 44 in a position such thatthe clutch disk 35 is disengaged from the clutch disk 32. Under rotationof the shaft 2| the clutch arms 42 are swung upwardly, in the usualmanner, under centrifugal throw of the ball members 43, under whichaction of the arms 42 the earns 44 elevate the yoke 45 and clutch rod 36to engage the clutch disk 35 with the clutch disk 32. In this connectionit is to be noted that the cams 44 are susbt-antially heart-shaped andso arranged relative to the yoke 45 that when the governor arms 42 havemoved upwardly in a predetermined degree, said cams 44 will permit theyoke 45 and clutch rod 36 to descend and disengage the disk 35 from thedisk 32. This is a safety provision for preventing operation of thesecondary shaft 28 when the wind attains undue velocity.

The lower end of the secondary drive shaft 28 is operatively connected,by means of bevelled gearing 49, to a horizontally extending jack shaft50 journaled in anti-friction bearings 5! and 52 provided in thebeforernentioned bearing bracket 29 and panel 6 respectively. The jackshaft 58 has fast thereon a pairof pulleys 53 connected by belts 54 tothe beforementioned pulleys 20 respectively.

Describing now the slogan displaying features of the invention, thepanel 8 has formed therein above the background 9, which is to say inthe upper part of said panel, a horizontally elongated aperture 55covered by a glass panel 56 and surrounded by a retaining frame 51.Adjacent each end of the aperture 55 is a pair of upper and lowerbearing brackets 58. A pair of convex rollers 58 are journaled inupstanding positions in said pairs of brackets 58, respectively, bymeans of studs 59 on said rollers, the rollers extending across oppositeends of said aperture 55 and having trained around the same an endlessband 68, of any suitable material, upon which is printed or otherwisedelineated suitable slogans or legends as at 6|, so that upon rotationof said-rollers said slogans will be rendered visible, successively,through said panel 56. One of the rollers 58 is revolved by thesecondary drive shaft 28 through the medium of a pair of pulleys 62 and63 fast on said shaft and one of the studs 59 of said roller,respectively, and a belt 64 extending between said pulleys.

Extending forwardly and downwardly from the top of the frame I is a pairof suitable refiector supports 65 provided with reflectors 66 andlocated adjacent opposite ends of the panel 56 respectively. Within thereflectors 66 are electric light bulbs 81 secured therein in anysuitable manner.

Suitably secured to the front panel within the casing is an automobilehorn 68 of the electrically operated type and which together with theelectric light bulbs 61 is adapted to be intermittently energized bymeans to be described in detail and including a pair of resilientcontact blades 69 and 18 adapted to be bridged by a revolving contactpin upstanding from a gear wheel 12 fast on an arbor 13 journaled at itsopposite ends in a bearing bracket 14 secured to the panel 6, as at 15,said gear wheel 12 meshing with a smaller gear wheel 16 fast on the secondary drive shaft 28 whereby said shaft 28 drives gear 12 and therevolving contact 11 intermittently bridges the resilient contact 69 and18 to intermittently close the circuits, in a manner presently clear,and correspondingly energize the light bulbs 61 and horn 68.

Under normal conditions, that is when wind is available to operate thedescribed wind wheel the apparatus is driven by said wind wheel and theelectric lights 61 and horn 68 are energized by a battery 11 undercontrol of the described contacts 69 and I8 and revolving contactHowever, when no wind is available, or the wind attains undue velocityand the clutch disks 35 and 32 are disengaged in the manner previouslydescribed, the apparatus is driven by a motor I8 mounted on top of ahousing 19 secured to the bottomside 3 of the casing, in the latter, andoperatively connected to the jack shaft 59 by means of a pair of pulleys88 and 8| fast on the armature shaft 82 of said motor and said jackshaft, respectively, and a belt 83 connecting said pulleys, Also undernormal conditions such as mentioned the battery 19 is charged by meansof a generator 84 suitably secured in the casing to the panel 6, asindicated at 85 and operated by the primary drive shaft 2| which shaftcomprises the armature shaft of the generator.

The wiring for the apparatus comprises the following:

One side of the generator 84 is connected by a lead 86 to the battery 11through a suitable cut-out 81 to one side of which said lead 86 isconnected, the other side of the cut-out being appropriately connectedto the positive and negative poles 88 and 89 of said battery with acondenser 90 interposed in the line of connection between said cut-outand pole 89. The electric lights 'II are connected on one side by a leadSI and on the other by a lead 92, the lead 9| being wired as at 93 tothe minus pole 89 of said battery and the lead 92 being wired by a lead94 to the contact 69 which is adapted to be bridged to the contact I0which is connected by a lead 95 to the positive pole 88 of said battery.The other side of the generator 84 is connected to the lead 93 by theshort lead 96. The horn 68 is connected on one side by a lead 91 to lead93 and on the other side by a lead 98 to lead 94. As will be seen undernormal conditions, the generator 84 energizes the battery IT by way oflead 86 and cut-out 81 the latter operating when the battery 'Il isfully charged to cut out the generator 84. Also each time the contacts69 and I0 are bridged by the revolving contact II the electric lights 61are energized by way of lead 95, contacts I0, II and 69, leads 94 and92, and leads 9| and 93. Coincidentally the horn 68 is energized by wayof leads 98 and 91 in a manne which will be manifest.

As we have already seen when no wind is available and the governor arms42 are in pendant or substantially vertical position the clutch disk 35is disengaged from the clutch disk 32. Likewise, when the wind attainsundue velocity a similar situation obtains. Under these conditions themotor I8 is rendered effective to drive the jack shaft 50 and secondarydrive shaft 28, to drive the apparatus, and by the following means. Whenthe clutch disk 35 descends to disengaging position an annular shoe 99secured to the underside of said disk 35 against an insulation strip I00bridges a pair of fixed contacts IOI and I02 suitably secured, as atI03, to the front panel 6 within the casing I and controlling operationof the motor 18. One of the contacts, IN, is wired by a lead I04 to thepositive pole 88 of the battery 11. The other contact I02 is wired by alead I05 to one side of the motor TI the other side of which isconnected by a short lead I06 to the beforementioned lead 93.Consequently when the contacts WI and I02 are bridged by the shoe 99, itbeing understood that the latter is of conductive material, the motor 18is energized from the battery I! by way of lead I04, contacts IOI, I02,lead I05, short lead I06, and lead 93 to the minus pole 89 of thebattery. Obviously, under centrifugal throw of the ball members 43 andupward swinging of the governor arms 42, under which movements of saidarms 42 to a predetermined point the disks 35 and 32 are engaged, thecontacts I Ill and I 02 are isolated and the motor I8 rendered idle.

The housing 19 contains a clock I01 operatively connected in anysuitable manner in the circuit wiring for the lights 61 to cut off saidlights at sunset and cut them in again at sunrise. 5

' Since the operation of my invention has been set forth in detail inconnection with the foregoing description of parts, it is thought thatfurther explanation as regards operation is not necessary to a clearunderstanding of the invention.

Manifestly my invention, as described, is susceptible of modificationwithout departing from the inventive concept and right is hereinreserved to all such modifications falling within the scope of thesubjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a casing having depictedon one face thereof an automobile including wheels, said wheelscomprising rotatable disks, and a drive for said disks including a windwheel on top of said casing, a normally ineffective motor in saidcasing, and operating connections between said disks and said Wind wheeland motor, respectively, including a governor operative when the windwheel is idle to render the motor effective.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a casing having depictedon one face thereof an automobile including wheels, said wheelscomprising rotatable disks, and a drive for said disks including a windwheel on top of the casing, a normally ineffective motor in said casing,and operating connections between said disks and said wind wheel andmotor, respectively, including a governor operative under rotation ofsaid Wind wheel beyond a fixed speed limit to render the motoreffective.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a casing having depictedon one face thereof an automobile including wheels, said wheelscomprising rotatable disks, and a drive for said disks including a windwheel on top of the casing, a normally ineffective motor, a battery foroperating the motor, operating connections between said disks and thewind wheel and motor, respectively, including a governor operative whenthe Wind wheel is idle to render the motor effective, and a generatoroperative by the wind wheel to charge the battery.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a casing having depictedon one face thereof an automobile including wheels, said wheelscomprising rotatable disks, and a drive for said disks including a windwheel on top of the casing, a normally ineffective motor, a battery foroperating the motor, operating connections between said disks and thewind wheel and motor, respectively, including a governor operative whenthe wind wheel is idle to render the motor effective, and a generatoroperative by the wind wheel to charge the battery, an electricallyoperative sound-producing device in said casing adapted to be connectedin circuit with said battery, and a circuit maker and breaker in saidcasing operative intermittently as an incident to operation of saiddrive to control said circuit;

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising a casing having depictedon one face thereof an automobile having wheels, the wheels comprisingrotatable disks, and a drive for said disks including a wind wheel ontop of the casing, a normally ineifective motor in said casing, abattery for energizing said motor, and operating connections betweensaid disks and said wind wheel and motor, respectively, including agovernor operative when the wind wheel is idle to render the motoreffective, an electrically operative sound-producing device in thecasing, electric lights on the casing for illuminating said facethereof, leads for connecting said device and lights in circuit withsaid battery, and a circuit maker and breaker operative by said drive tointermittently break the circuits of said device and lights.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a casing-like billboard havingdepicted thereon an article to be advertised including a movable part, awind wheel on top of said board, and an electrically operative drive forsaid part enclosed in the billboard and operative under control of saidwind wheel.

CLAUD E. MCCALLUM.

